Series: Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gift
#11: The Gifts of Spiritual Roles – Apostle/Missionary
Psalm 23 and John 21:15-17 (NLT)
By John Gill ~ August 20, 2023

Whenever I have gone to serve a new congregation, I am inevitably asked by folks, “What do you want us to call you? Reverend? Preacher? Pastor?” Technically, all the options would be fine and correct, but “Reverend” always seems too formal – too stodgy. “Preacher” is less formal, but only focuses on one of the roles clergy play in the life of the church. So, I typically respond, “Just call me ‘Pastor John.’” But, as we are now spending so many weeks considering our Spiritual Gifts, I am beginning to wonder if I shouldn’t call myself “Pastor,” either!

Over the course of my ministry, I have had a number of opportunities to take a Spiritual Gifts Inventory (you know… those questionnaires that you complete and score, and it tells you what your top three Spiritual Gifts may be). Perhaps you have taken one of those at some point – in any case, toward the end of our sermon series, you will be invited to take a Spiritual Gift Inventory to find out if your hunches have been correct about which gifts the Holy Spirit may have blessed you with. More about that to come.

I’ve now been a pastor for almost 38 years. One might expect that one of my highest scoring gifts would certainly be “pastor.” But, no matter how many of these inventories I take, “pastor” is never one of the “top three.” Often, it doesn’t even make the “top ten!” My top gifts consistently are “leadership, teaching, knowledge, faith, and prophet.” Whenever I mention this in conversation or in a Bible study, people laugh, and try to assure me that I do have the gift of “pastor,” but frankly, deep down it bothers me. Haven’t I always told people they should find a place of ministry that matches their Spiritual Gifts? Maybe I’m a square peg in a round hole!

I sometimes feel like a man named John O’Brian. He was trying to explain to a friend why he had left the priesthood. “Were you defrocked,” his friend asked. “No,” John replied, “just unsuited.” Could it be that, after all this time, I am “unsuited” to be a pastor?

That’s why, to some extent, I have been dreading when the Sunday would finally come for me to preach on the Spiritual Gift of “Pastor.” But, that Sunday has arrived, and so this week I had to face my fears and insecurities head on.

And, I’m glad I did! In my study this week, I have learned a few things that have set my mind at ease: I have discovered that there is a difference between the “role” of the pastor and the “spiritual gift” of pastor.

It’s true that God calls certain people to become “pastors” in the formal sense of the term – women and men who are set-apart to have responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a particular group of Christians in a local church. That’s how we usually use the term.

A common definition of this gift is this: “The gift to assume a long-term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare for a group of believers; provides spiritual food, protection, guidance, and care for God’s people; ‘shepherd.’”

That is what I was called by God to do. And for many years of my ministry, I labored long and hard to try to “pastor” my flock all by myself. And since I had tried to do all the “pastoring” alone, I’ve often found the experience impossibly large, overwhelming, and frustrating. More than once I’ve almost decided to “hang it all up.” And then, taking Spiritual Gift Inventories and learning that my top gift-mix doesn’t include “pastor” only made my doubts worse.

However, in my study for our message today, it has been made clear to me that I had a mistaken understanding of “pastor.” Pastoring is not meant to be a “lone-ranger” activity, reserved only for “clergy.” “Pastor” is not an “office,” but a Spiritual Gift! God gifts many people in His church with the gift of “pastoring,” without ever calling them to become “pastors.” Many people in this congregation are gifted for pastoring, and are exercising that gift without title or recognition.

This insight has been liberating for me! “Pastoring” doesn’t all depend on me! And that’s how it should be!

In light of my low score for “pastor,” I was immensely encouraged by what I read in one of my books about the Spiritual Gifts.” It said, “Take heart, pastor without the spiritual gift of pastor! Your church has been given all the pastoral gifts it needs by the Lord…!” In fact, according to the studies of growing vital churches cited in the book, their pastors seldom have the Gift of Pastoring – but instead score high in the Gift of Leadership! The most healthy congregations are those that encourage the laity who possess the gift of pastoring to care for small groups within the church! That way, care is multiplied, people’s needs are met, and the congregation grows!

In fact, so the study showed, those pastors who excelled in “pastoring” their congregations actually PREVENTED their congregations from growing. You see, by trying to do all the caring for the flock by themselves and not utilizing the gifts of others in the congregation, many members with needs were not cared for. The needs of folks in a congregation are vast – but the clergy has only a limited number of hours per day.

So, as it turns out, it may be a GOOD thing that I score low in “pastor” because it forces me to rely on YOU to share the role of pastoring the flock – and that is a good and healthy thing for the church!

Now let’s turn our attention to the Gift of Pastoring, itself. How do you know if you have this gift?

That’s a little confusing because it’s hard to think of “pastor” without thinking about being a “preacher.” But it becomes easier when we remember that the word translated “pastor” also means “shepherd.” In fact, many studies of the spiritual gifts list this gift as “the gift of shepherding.” Therefore, in the time remaining, I’d like for us to think about what it means to be gifted as a ‘shepherd,’ because I feel confident that a number of you sitting here this morning have this as one of your top gifts.

Of course, there is no better role-model for what it means to be a shepherd than to look at how the Bible speaks about the Lord being the Good Shepherd. There are at least four things which Scripture tells us about the Good Shepherd that helps us understand how we are to shepherd one another:

1. First, the Shepherd Leads

It is significant that God isn’t described as being the “Good Goatheard.” Goats must be driven. Sheep are led. A flock of sheep follows the lead of the shepherd as he guides them in the way they should go. As Psalm 23 expresses it: “He leads me beside peaceful streams… He guides me along right paths…” A Good Shepherd gives direction so we don’t wander way from the flock. And even if we do, He will seek us out to bring us home. Jesus made this clear in his parable about the 99 and the 1 – the Good Shepherd will seek out and save the lost lambs. As we sometimes sing, “He leadeth me! O blessed thought, O words with heav'nly comfort fraught; Whate'er I do, where'er I be, Still 'tis Christ's hand that leadeth me.”

2. So, the Shepherd Leads. The Shepherd also Provides

Domestic sheep are not too bright or self-sufficient. In fact, sheep are totally dependent on the shepherd for their care. In Biblical times, a shepherd would have to lead the flock to good pastures and sources of fresh water, lest

they starve or waste away. In fact, the etymology of the word “pastor” is based on the word for “to feed.” The pastor is literally “the feeder of the sheep.” In our lesson from John’s Gospel, we hear the Risen Christ command Peter to “feed my sheep.” It was Peter’s commissioning to be a “Pastor.” As “pastors” we are called to supply our flock with good healthy abundant food – not junk food – and fresh clean living water – not foul stagnant water. Just as David says, “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.”

3. So, the Shepherd Leads and Provides. He also Protects

Because the sheep are helpless, they are vulnerable to being attacked by predators – lions and wolves who want to devour the sheep. The Shepherd must provide protection for his sheep. Good Shepherds are skilled at defense against the Enemy. In the Psalm, we read, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” The “rod and staff” were the weapons skilled shepherds used to keep predators at bay – or if necessary, to kill them. We also know from David’s life-story that he was also an expert at the sling shot – with which he used to dispatch Goliath. The shepherd is aways vigilant to danger – but he can only protect us sheep if we stay close to him. Otherwise – we are in grave danger.

4. Finally, the Shepherd Comforts.

One of the favorite subjects for stained glass windows in America is “Jesus, the Good Shepherd.” Invariably, the image will depict Jesus carrying a wounded sheep on his shoulders or a lamb in his arms. In Isaiah 40:11 we first find this image, “He will gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom.” Closely related to the Gift of Pastoring are the gifts of Compassion and Mercy. We are at peace in the arms of our Shepherd.

These are the Characteristics of the Good Shepherd as described in scripture. The same holds true for any of us who are gifted with pastoring. As those called to shepherd others in the church, we are also called to:

1. Lead Others in the Right Path

As I said, sheep follow the lead of the shepherd. If we want people to follow our lead, we must make certain that we are living a godly life that others are attracted to, so they can avoid pitfalls, wandering away from the flock.

I once saw a bumper sticker that read, “Don’t follow me, I’m lost, too!” Being a pastor is a great responsibility. Do we want people to emulate our lives? The Apostle Paul was bold enough to tell the church at Philippi (3:17), “Join one another in following my example, brothers and sisters, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.” Do you live your life in such a way that it would be wise for others to follow the pattern you have set? If you are gifted with shepherding, you will be held to a high standard – as you are being watch and your life is being emulated by others.

2. Those Gifted with Pastoring also are to Provide Spiritual Nutrition for Others

Sheep are not very discriminating eaters. Like goats, they will eat just about anything that grows. However, not all plants are safe for sheep to consume. Even today, sheep farmers have to make certain their flock avoid toxic plants, especially those in the nightshade family, such as horsenettle and black nightshade. Also, they must not consume pokeweed, ivy, irises, chokecherry, St. John’s Wort, or Black Locust – as these are all toxic to sheep. A Good Sheperd makes sure the sheep are fed a nutritious diet. As persons with the Gift of Pastoring, we also need to assure that those we care for have a healthy spiritual diet. There is plenty of spiritual junk-food filled with empty calories, or even toxic ideologies that will poison the mind and heart.

Just as with the Gift of Apostle that I preached on last Sunday, those with the Gift of Pastoring must know the life-giving word of God, so they are able to share it with others.

3. As a Young Shepherd Boy, King David, Trained Himself to Defend His Flock. Those with the Pastoring Gift Must also be Prepared to Protect Others from the Enemy.

As Pastors, how are we to do that? I think in three ways:

1) There are dangers all around and within each of us. Therefore, we pray for them – asking God to put a hedge of protection around those for whom we have oversight.

2) We warn them when they make themselves vulnerable to danger or attack. We urge them to stay close to the Shepherd.

3) And, when they wander away, we seek them out and restore them to the fold.

It’s just as Paul says to the elders in the church at Ephesus (in Acts 20:29-31), “I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day...” Paul was exercising his Gift of Pastoring – he was defending his flock from predators.

4. Finally, Those of Us with the Gift of Pastoring Offer Comfort.

Shepherds carry others when they are weak. Sometimes each of us goes through a season when we are emotionally and spiritually exhausted, and we need to lean on someone for a while – to allow someone to carry us until we can walk again on our own. That’s what our Stephen Ministry is for. Because they care for others, those with the pastoring gift show compassion and mercy on others. Shepherds care what happens to the sheep, and will do what they can to help them when they are hurting. And so, we shepherds come along-side people when they must walk through spiritual “dark valleys.” As David wrote in the Psalm, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” No matter what we face, we are not afraid – because we are not alone. And those with the Gift of Pastoring strive to offer comfort whenever possible.

I wonder – does this describe you? Do you feel called to take responsibility for the spiritual welfare of others? If so, you may have the spiritual gift of shepherding. It is possible that you MAY be called to the ordained ministry and the role of pastor, but more likely, you are being called to serve as a shepherd right where you are.

Once we have all identified our Spiritual Gifts, I would invite all the “shepherds” amongst us to join together to work more as a team in pastoring this “flock.” After all, Jesus didn’t try to do it all by himself – He call twelve – and He has called you and me, also! He has commanded us to “pastor” – to “shepherd” one another – in his name. As Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians (5:11), “Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. We are to watch over one-another in the flock.

In Mark’s Gospel, we find the story of the feeding of the 5000. The scripture tells us that, when Jesus looked at the multitude, He “had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” When you and I look out over the “multitude” in our congregation and community, do we “have compassion” on them? There are so many today who are “like sheep without a shepherd,” who need to be guided, fed, protected, and comforted.

Who will do it? Is God calling you to be someone’s shepherd? If so, maybe Jesus is saying to you what he once said to Peter, “Do you love me? Then feed my sheep.”

© 2023 by John B. Gill, III